84 Discoglossus in the Loioer Miocene of Germany. 



rnillim. millim. 



Fi-om snout to vent 67 55 



Length of head 21 16 



Width of head 26 19 



Dorsal vertebral column 21 18 



Coccyx 24 19 



Femur 27 23 



Tibia 32 26 



Tarsus 27 24 



Foot 21 18 



The differences are no greater tlian can be found between 

 individuals of the same species. 



h. The shape of the fronto-parietals, which are narrower 

 behind than in front, and the large size of the nasals or prge- 

 frontals. 



c. The comparatively feeble expansion of the transverse 

 process of the sacral vertebra, the distal diameter being 

 inferior to the length of the process. 



d. The ler.gth of the coccygeal style, which a little exceeds 

 tlie length of the dorsal vertebral column. 



e. The short web between the toes. 



On turning to H. v. Meyer's paper on the fossil frogs * I 

 find a specimen, likewise from the lignite of Rott, near Bonn, 

 described and figured as Rana TroscheUi'\ which agrees with 

 the above specimen except in its smaller size. Tliis R, 

 Trosclielii had been compared with Alytes by H. v. Meyer on 

 account of its having ribs, and for that reason alone ; but I 

 cannot find any further resemblance, for Alytes has the sacral 

 processes strongly dilated, the coccyx shorter than the dorsal 

 vertebral column, the fronto-parietals wider throughout, and 

 a stouter, more toad-like habitus. I therefore cannot conceive 

 what induced Cope J to state that Rana Trosclielii is 

 " undoubtedly an Alytes^ However, the frog has since 

 generally passed under the name of Alytes Trosclielii. This 

 name I now propose to alter to Discoglossus Trosclielii^ 

 regarding the type specimen as young and the specimen 

 35057 in the British Museum as an adult female. 



Zittel, in his ' Manual,' p. 431, mentions Discoglossus from 

 the Brown Coal, this statement being based on the identifica- 

 tion of isolated mandibles. I do not know, however, and 

 Dr. Zittel does not tell us, how to distinguish a mandible of 



* ' Palajontog-raphica,' vii., 1860, pj). 128-182, pis. xvi.-xxii. 

 t The name of this frog occurs twice over in Zittel's * Manual,'— as a 

 Ihina on p. 428, as an Alytes on p. 431. 



\ Nat. Hist. Review, 1865, p. 106, footnote. 



